The Least-Visited National Parks in America’s Lower 48 (and why you should visit them)

Although the United States has over 400 locations administered by the National Park Service, there are only 59 that are official “national parks.” Of these 47 are located in the lower 48 states and are relatively accessible. Most people know about well-known and well-traveled parks like Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Olympic, Rocky Mountain, Zion, Grand Teton, Acadia, and Glacier. Each of these parks see over two million visitors annually, and with good reason. The natural wonders they offer are breathtaking, filled with spectacular scenery, abundant wildlife, gorgeous plants, and fascinating geology.

At the same time there are many other national parks in the lower 48 that are waiting to be discovered. For various reasons these parks aren’t nearly as well-known, and yet they harbor some of the best-kept secrets in America. Instead of counting visitors by the millions, these…